Not to take anything away from the Ram 1500, but it almost has to be our Truck of the Year. A diesel half-ton has been on the forefront of truck enthusiast’s wish lists for years now, and Ram has put together a great package with few flaws.
Without a doubt, every single one of these trucks will work hard, confidently, on a daily basis. The 6,000 lbs that we had hooked up wasn’t nearly enough to push any of these trucks around, with all four of them feeling confident.
The real key is finding the right package for suiting your needs. Want a convenient bed step? Buy a Ford. Want low-end torque? Buy a Toyota. Looking for a mobile office with space for all your stuff? Pick up a Chevy. But if highway miles are your thing, the new 3.0-liter diesel equipped Ram is the best option.
In general the Ram 1500 lineup is built to get work done and look good doing it. Innovative and advanced, it’s economical with the gasoline V6, a real work-horse with the Hemi and it’s just perfect with the new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine.
FUEL ECONOMY: Testing included evaluation of five different models and 12 different trims. Below is a detailed look at each truck’s fuel economy when driving unladen, with 1,000 lbs of payload and when towing a 6,000 lb. trailer. Half of the test loop consisted of gravel roads, while the other half was paved highway.
